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A beleaguered wildlife sanctuary in New Zealand has stated it was compelled to euthanise two of its senior lions, with the destiny of the other five lions still undecided, following economic struggles.

The private wildlife park in the northern town of Whangārei shut down over the weekend.

In a social media post, the facility indicated that its proprietor had put the property up for sale in August, and the seven lions, aged between 18 and 21 years old, would be put down “following a difficult decision made by the landowner.”

“No viable alternatives remained. The team and I are devastated,” said the facility’s manager.

“Even though it may possibly continue as a lion park under different management, such a scenario would require not only the purchase of the land but considerable financial backing,” the operator added.

In a subsequent announcement, the sanctuary verified that two of its lions had been euthanised.

“We recently farewelled two of our lions, both of whom had grave illnesses that were not treatable and were deteriorating. These choices were made with deep care and deliberation,” the director said.

However, there was a “ray of hope” for the remaining five lions, which the park had earlier indicated would be euthanised.

“A handful of parties have expressed interest in buying the facility and continuing to care for the lions. Although the deadline is short and the conditions remain uncertain, we are doing all we can to pursue this opportunity and maintain optimism.”

Relocating the lions to another facility was not a “feasible or ethical option” due to their advanced age, the quantity of animals involved, and their complex needs.

The facility’s posts were overwhelmed by messages from the community, pleading for a stay of execution for the remaining lions, while past workers expressed optimism that the sanctuary would rethink the decision to euthanise them.

The manager stated that among the supportive comments and expressions of sympathy, she had also encountered threatening and abusive comments.

“This is profoundly disturbing,” she remarked. “We understand that passions are strong, but we appeal for compassion and decency as we handle this heartbreaking circumstance.”

The property owner chose not to respond.

The regulatory body clarified that the choice to humanely kill the lions lay with the landowners, and that it had been informed of the intention.

A deputy director stated that putting down had to be performed humanely, and in accordance with animal protection legislation.

“An compliance official will be present to verify this is done appropriately,” the spokesperson stated. “We are assured that the establishment continues to fulfill its wildlife protection and enclosure requirements.”

The facility gained a degree of notoriety in the early part of the century when it was shown on a broadcast series about a well-known lion tamer.

However, it soon encountered difficulties. In 2009, a keeper was killed by a big cat while performing maintenance.

The park often ran into monetary difficulties and staffing problems, and had multiple owners on several occasions. In 2014, the government agency ordered the establishment to shut down until the habitats were improved. It restarted in 2021 but faced insolvency in 2023.